Digest of Other White House Announcements

The following list includes the President’s public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this issue.

December 6

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Philadelphia, PA, where, at the Union League of Philadelphia headquarters, he received the Union League of Philadelphia’s Gold Medal Award. He then traveled to Lincoln Financial Field, where he visited the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy football teams’ locker rooms prior to the Army-Navy football game.

In the afternoon, the President participated in the Army-Navy football game coin toss and then watched the game. Later, he returned to Washington, DC.

December 7

In the afternoon, in the East Room, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted a reception for Kennedy Center honorees.

In the evening, the President and Mrs. Bush attended the Kennedy Center Honors Gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

December 8

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to McLean, VA, where he visited the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center and participated in briefings.

In the afternoon, the President met and had lunch with National Counterterrorism Center staff. He then returned to Washington, DC. Later, in the Library, he participated in an interview with Cynthia McFadden of ABC News.

The White House announced that the President will welcome President Elias Antonio Saca Gonzalez of El Salvador to the White House on December 16.

December 9

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to West Point, NY, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Sgt. Jermaine Malone, USA.

In the afternoon, at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the President met with West Point senior cadets. He then participated in an interview with the Pentagon Channel.

Later in the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC, where, upon arrival on the South Lawn, he met with Lance Cpl. Patrick P. Pittman, Jr., USMC, and Lance Cpl. Marc E. Olson, USMC, who were both wounded in a suicide bomb attack in Ramadi, Iraq. He also met with Lance Cpl. Pittman’s father, Patrick P. Pittman, Sr., and Lance Cpl. Olson’s mother, Janice Kloski.

December 10

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he participated in an interview with Tom Bevan and John McIntyre of RealClearPolitics. He then participated in an interview with Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.

In the afternoon, in the Oval Office, the President participated in a presentation ceremony for recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal. Later, in the Roosevelt Room, he participated in a video teleconference with democracy advocate bloggers from Belarus, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, and Venezuela.

The President announced his intention to nominate Matthew W. Friedrich to be Assistant Attorney General (Criminal Division).

December 11

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

During the day, the President had a telephone conversation with Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr., to discuss bailout legislation for the automobile industry.

In the evening, the President was briefed on Congress’s failure to pass bailout legislation for the automobile industry.

The President announced his intention to appoint the following individuals as members of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation: Richard D. Fairbanks; Arthur G. Linkletter; Sonya E. Medina; Stephen Odland; and Jose R. Ramos.

December 12

In the morning, the President met separately with several White House staff members to discuss failed bailout legislation for the automobile industry. Later, he had an intelligence briefing.

Later in the morning, the President traveled to College Station, TX. While en route aboard Air Force One, he participated in an interview with Kim Strassel of the Wall Street Journal.

In the afternoon, the President returned to Washington, DC. Later, at the State Department, he and Mrs. Bush attended a holiday reception for the diplomatic corps.

The President declared a major disaster in South Dakota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm and record and near record snow from November 5-7.